By Rutendo Mapfumo
All roads lead to NumberTwo as the Matabeleland North Show Society has geared up for this year’s highly anticipated annual exhibition starting on Wednesday and running until Saturday.
Preparations for the event are well advanced, with organisers reporting a 10 percent increase in exhibi-tors compared to the 2024 edition.
Themed “Driving Towards Sustainability,” the 2025 show will rally participants around the progress made towards achieving the 2030 vision of an upper middle-income society.
According to the organisers, close to 40 companies and organisations had confirmed their participation as of July 30, excluding numerous small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and informal traders.
“The steady growth in exhibitor numbers this year reflects the renewed confidence in the region’s eco-nomic potential,” said Matabeleland North Show Society Chairman, Misheck Marangdu. “We are de-lighted to see a diverse range of businesses engaging with our vision, and we are confident the exhibi-tion will be a vibrant platform for showcasing innovation and sustainability.”
Preparations at the Hwange Show Grounds are nearing completion, with exhibitors cleaning their stands. The boardroom refurbishment is almost complete, and work is underway to upgrade the arena facilities, with workers making steady progress.
In a show of strong community partnership, Hwange Colliery Company has extended the showgrounds by providing additional land for parking. Clearing and preparation of the new parking area are ongoing, and organisers are also actively addressing perennial water supply challenges to ensure a smooth event.
There will be an exhibitors’ conference on Thursday followed by a farmers’ conference on Friday. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.
Visitors can look forward to a range of activities including horse riding, children’s games, face painting, and a jumping castle. The festivities will culminate in a musical show on Saturday night, providing enter-tainment for all ages.
“We invite everyone to come and experience the spirit of innovation, community, and progress that de-fines the Matabeleland North Show,” added Chairman Marangdu. “Together, we can drive sustainable growth that benefits all our people.”
